Method, apparatus and system for flow distribution through a heat exchanger
A method, apparatus and system are described for flow distribution through a heat exchanger. The system may include a chassis and an apparatus. The apparatus may include a heat exchanger, and a cold plate. In some embodiments, a pump may provide for the flow of the fluid between the heat exchanger and the cold plate. In some embodiments, the heat exchanger may include a tube to transport a first fluid, a plurality of fins coupled to the tube to facilitate transfer of thermal energy from the first fluid to the plurality of fins, and a gate coupled to the plurality of fins to direct flow of a second fluid through passages between the fins, where the gate includes a deformable laminate of a plurality of layers having different coefficients of thermal expansion, the plurality of layers being bonded to one another. Other embodiments may be described.
1 . A heat exchanger comprising:
a tube to transport a first fluid;
a plurality of fins coupled to the tube to facilitate transfer of thermal energy from the first fluid to the plurality of fins; and
a gate coupled to the plurality of fins to direct flow of a second fluid through passages between the fins, wherein the gate includes a deformable laminate of a plurality of layers having different coefficients of thermal expansion, the plurality of layers being bonded to one another.
2 . The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the first fluid is a liquid or a solid.
3 . The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the second fluid is air.
4 . The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fins is arranged in a stack of mutually parallel plates.
5 . The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the gate is deformable towards one or more sides with changes in temperature.
6 . The heat exchanger of claim 5 , wherein the gate is deformable towards a contracted state at a low temperature, wherein the flow of the second fluid through the plurality of fins is reduced.
7 . The heat exchanger of claim 5 , wherein the gate is deformable towards an expanded state at a high temperature, wherein the flow of the second fluid through the plurality of fins is increased.
8 . The heat exchanger of claim 6 , wherein the contracted state includes one of the layers having a higher coefficient of thermal expansion contracts to deform the gate toward the near side of the layer.
9 . The heat exchanger of claim 7 , wherein the expanded state includes one of the layers having a higher coefficient of thermal expansion expands to deform the gate toward the far side of the layer.
10 . An apparatus comprising:
a heat exchanger including a tube to transport a first fluid; a plurality of fins coupled to the tube to facilitate transfer of thermal energy from the first fluid to the plurality of fins; a gate coupled to the plurality of fins to direct flow of a second fluid through passages between the fins, wherein the gate includes a deformable laminate of a plurality of layers having different coefficients of thermal expansion, the plurality of layers being bonded to one another; and
a cold plate coupled to the tube and coupled to an electronic component from which thermal energy is to be transferred.
11 . The apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising:
a pump coupled to the tube, wherein the pump circulates the first fluid through the tube between the cold plate and the heat exchanger.
12 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the first fluid is a liquid or a solid.
13 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the second fluid is air.
14 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of fins is arranged in a stack of mutually parallel plates.
15 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the gate is deformable towards one or more sides with changes in temperature.
16 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the gate is deformable towards a contracted state at a low temperature, wherein the flow of the second fluid through the plurality of fins is reduced.
17 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the gate is deformable towards an expanded state at a high temperature, wherein the flow of the second fluid through the plurality of fins is increased.
18 . The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the contracted state includes one of the layers having a higher coefficient of thermal expansion contracts to deform the gate toward the near side of the layer.
19 . The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the expanded state includes one of the layers having a higher coefficient of thermal expansion expands to deform the gate toward the far side of the layer.
20 . A system comprising:
a chassis including airflow vents;
a plurality of components capable of generating heat, the components mounted within the chassis; and
an apparatus including a heat exchanger including a tube to transport a first fluid; a plurality of fins coupled to the tube to facilitate transfer of thermal energy from the first fluid to the plurality of fins; a gate coupled to the plurality of fins to direct flow of a second fluid through passages between the fins, wherein the gate includes a deformable laminate of a plurality of layers having different coefficients of thermal expansion, the plurality of layers being bonded to one another; and a cold plate coupled to the tube and coupled to an electronic component from which thermal energy is to be transferred.
21 . The system of claim 20 , further comprising:
a second apparatus including a second heat exchanger including a second tube to transport a third fluid; a second plurality of fins coupled to the second tube to facilitate transfer of thermal energy from the third fluid to the second plurality of fins; a second gate coupled to the second plurality of fins to direct flow of a fourth fluid through passages between the fins, wherein the second gate includes a deformable laminate of a second plurality of layers having different coefficients of thermal expansion, the second plurality of layers being bonded to one another; and a second cold plate coupled to the second tube and coupled to a second electronic component from which thermal energy is to be transferred.
22 . The system of claim 21 , wherein the first and third fluids are a liquid or a solid.
23 . The system of claim 21 , wherein the second and fourth fluids are air.
24 . The system of claim 20 , wherein the plurality of fins is arranged in a stack of mutually parallel plates.
25 . The system of claim 20 , wherein the gate is deformable towards one or more sides with changes in temperature.
26 . The system of claim 25 , wherein the gate is deformable towards a contracted state at a low temperature, wherein the flow of the second fluid through the plurality of fins is reduced.
27 . The system of claim 25 , wherein the gate is deformable towards an expanded state at a high temperature, wherein the flow of the second fluid through the plurality of fins is increased.
28 . The system of claim 26 , wherein the contracted state includes one of the layers having a higher coefficient of thermal expansion contracts to deform the gate toward the near side of the layer.
29 . The system of claim 27 , wherein the expanded state includes one of the layers having a higher coefficient of thermal expansion expands to deform the gate toward the far side of the layer.
30 . A method comprising:
determining a threshold temperature for a transition between a contracted state and an expanded state;
determining one or more layers based on the threshold temperature; and
configuring a gate with a plurality of layers including the one or more layers based on the threshold temperature.
31 . The method of claim 30 , further comprising:
directing flow of a fluid through the gate, wherein the flow is reduced when the gate is in the contracted state.
32 . The method of claim 31 , wherein the flow is increased when the gate is in the expanded state.